Combination desk and document-cabinet



(No Model.)

C. E. LUCAS.

COMBINATION DESK AND DOCUMENT CABINET. NO. 454,368. Patented June 16,1891.

"muni-.-

lllllllll l/V VEN TOI? Wl T11/ESSE S UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN IIIIIICAS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

COMBINATION DESK AND DOCUMENT-CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 454,368, dated June 16', 1891.

Application tiled August 2, 1890. Serial No. 360,800. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

`be it known that I, CHRIsTIAN E. LUCAS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Desks and Document-Cabinets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication. rlhis invention relates to desks and cabinets for office use where a great number of pigeon-holes, bookfshelves, or other storage conveniences are desired, and also where safety from fire and water is desired, the details of construction whereby these ends are attained being hereinafter fully specified.

In the accompanying' drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the device, showing one door open, exposing the interior or revolving case divided into pigeon-holes and spaced book-shelves. Fig. 2 isasectional view Ashowing the construction of the sides; and Fig. 3 1s a sectional view showing the central construction and the pivot on which revolves the storage-cases. Fig. a is a horizontal section of the lower division of the device; and Fig. 5 is a View, also in horizontal section, showing the construction of the top division. Fig. G is a cross-section of the pivot-shaft on the line e' 6, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the composite nature of the outer casing.

In the figures like reference-marks indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

The exterior wall or casing A is preferably cylindrical in form and is made in two sections a and a', which are secured together at the joint near the vertical center by bolts, or in any desired manner, and has ends a2 fitted into or on the outer end of cach section. The ends and casing entire are made lire-proof and burglar-proof, as well as Water-tight, by reason of the construction which will now be described. On the outside is a sheathing c3 of metal, which should be either hardened or a composite metal adapted to resist the action of cutting, abra-ding, orbreakinginstruments, which. sheathing is fitted closely together in the joints for excluding water. On the inner side of the casing is a lining of wood or metal ci, its outer side being at a slight distance from the inner side of the sheathing a3, thus leaving an annular space between the lining and sheathing which will be filled with asbestus, mineral wool, or other non-conductor of heat, which insulation will be of suiiicient thickness to resist any desired degree of telnperature for the requisite period of time. The

construction of the heads a2 is also of this character. The metallic sheathing may be painted or grained, if desired, to imitate wood, or it may be suitablyT veneered. Each of the sections d and a is provided with a door a5, which may obviously open in any direction considered most convenient.

The spindle B is constructed as follows: Projecting upwardly through and tightly secured to the floor a3 is a hollow spindle I), which is provided with an annular projection b near its bottom end just above the floor a, by means of which it has bearing on and is supported by said Hoor, and upon the top of which rests the lower cylinder O, which is journaled on the said hollow spindle l) and revolves freely on the same, presenting any desired receptacle at the opening closed by one of the doors a5. The cylinder C is preferably constructed of two circular heads c, of wood or metal, and divided by radial partitions and again horizontally divided into com` partments of the desired size and character, said compartments tapering smaller at the back, which will facilitate the insertion and removal of books, papers, or other contents, as room will be allowed for the insertion of the iingcrs. A tube c', of wood or metal, also encircles the spindle l), forming in so doing back ends to the compartments. Journaled within the spindle b and revolving freely therein is a spindle b3, on which the upper cylinder C is secured. rlhe construction of this upper cylinder is similar to that of the lower, except that the compartments are shallower and the central tube c4 is larger diametrically than the lower tube c. The upper cylinder is supported upon the spindle b2 by means of the spiders c2, secured in each end of the tube c4. These spiders are secured to or journaled on the spindle b2, the lower one resting on the iiange b3 of the upper end of ITO the spindle b. The leaf or desk D slides in an opening in the section a of the casing and rests on the top edge of the contiguous portion of the part ct', and, by reason of its inner end being bifurcated, extends beyond the spindle B when closed,resting when open underthe annular projection b2 on the hollow part b of the Spindle B. Casters E are placedv under the devicein the desired position, one of suhcient strength being placed under and inserted in the lower end of the spindle B,which will obviously support the said spindle and the parts carried thereby without placing the strain on the floor of the desk, which will be of obvious adyantagewhen the articles stored are very heavy-such, for instance, as books. lt. will be thus seen that a compact convenient desk has been constructed with ample storage capacity, which will resist the action of Iire and of water thrown thereon in extinguishing the fire, and which is practically dust-proof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a device of the class described, the coinbination ofthe casing composed of two sections, oue placed upon' the other and having doors a5, the hollow spindle b, secured tov the floor of the casing and having annular projections near its lower and at its upper ends, the cylinder C, having an interior tube c surrounding the said spindle, the said cylinder resting upon the annular flange b', the spindle b2, j @urna-led within the spindle b, the cylinder C', having an interior tube, and the spiders c2, secured in the upper and lower ends of the interior tube of the cylinder C and journaled on the spindle b2, thc lower of said spiders resting on the flange b3 of the lower spindle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testim ony whereof I hereunto affix .my sig- Vitnesses:

A. P. "Woon, WJJ. NORTH. 

